Shoe-stretcher



H. WATERS.

SHOE STBETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 25, 1919.

1,340,994, Patentk a d 25, 1920.

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A TTORNEVS' UNITED STATES HENRY WATERS, OF BISBEE, ARIZONA.

SHOE-STRETCHER.

To allwhom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY WATERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bisbee, in the county of Cochise and State of Arizona, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in shoe stretchers, and has for its object to pro vide a .device of the character specified, by means of which the shoe may be stretched in many directions either longitudinally or laterally at diflerent points or in a vertical direction.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of the improved stretcher;

Fig. 2 is a view, looking at the inner side of one of the sections of the stretcher;

Fig. 3 is an end view, looking at the rear or heel portion of the stretcher;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the stretcher plate;

Fig. 5 is a section on line .35 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the vertical stretcher.

In the present embodiment of the invention the improved stretcher comprises a pair of similar sections 1, shaped to fit within the shoe to 'be stretched and the sections are connected at the rear or heel end by means of the hinge shown more particularly in Fig.3. This hinge comprises pairs of hinged leaves 2 and 3, a pair being secured to each section of the stretcher and the leaves are similar. The leaf '2 of each pair carries a bearing 4, which is adapted to 'aline with the bearing 5 of the other member of the pair, and with the bearings 4 and 5 of the other pair, to receive a pintle pin 6. This pintle pin as shown is of greater length than the aggregate distance between the outer faces of the outermost hearing so that the pairs of leaves may move away from each other during the operation of stretch ing, and the ends of the pintle pin are headed, as shown, to limit this spreading movement of the pairs.

Each section of the stretcher is grooved Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 19.20.

Application filed September 25. 1919. Serial No. 326,153.

on its inner face, as indicated at 7 the groove extending from the heel to the toe and the grooves are in register when the sections are properly connected. At the heel end of each groove 7 an opening 8 is provided extending outwardly through the section, and each opening is adapted to receive one end of a cross head 9 on the nut 10, which is arranged between the section. A screw-threaded rod 11 is threaded through the nut, and this rod, as shown, more particularly in Fig. 1, has its ends threaded in opposite directions, one of the said threaded ends engaging the nut. The other end of the rod passes through a nut 12, and is provided with a handle 13 beyond the nut.

The stretcher plate 4, shown in Fig. 4, is detachably connected with the inner end of the rod 11. This plate as shown is a split loop having rounded side edges and having the split at the rear or heel end of the plate. Theside walls of the split are rounded to permit the passage of a neck at the end of the rod, the said rod having a head beyond the neck which is adapted to engage within an opening of the plate and means is provided for engaging the head to prevent the withdrawal of the rod, the said means being releasable. In the present instance the means is a split ring 15, which is threaded into the central opening of the plate between the corners of the split and a projection 16 which extends into the central opening of the plate. The split of this split ring is adapted to register with the split of the plate 14 to disengage the head of the rod, or to move out of register with the split of the plate to hold the rod from rearward movement with respect to the plate. Thus the split ring l5 detachably connects the rod 11 to the plate 14.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will he noticed that the grooves 7 of the sections have inward portions, indicated at 17, whichare in register in the two sections, to receive the plate 14, to permit the sections to abut or to approximately abut. The bottom wall'of the groove inclines from each depression 17, so that when the plate is moved longitudinally of the groove out of the depression the same will be spaced apart. One of these depressions is near the heel end, while the other one is nearer the toe end. When the plate 14; is in the heel depression 7 the body of the shoe,- namely that portion near the in step, will be stretched when the stretcher is expanded, while when the plate 14 is near the toe, the toe will be stretched while the toe of the stretcher is stretched.

A frame 18 is provided for cooperating with the stretcher 1 to stretch the shoe longi: tudinally. The plate 18 has a vertical slot forming a guide-'way,'in which the nut 12 is received and it will be'noticed, referring to Fig. 2, that the nuthas grooves 19 extending longitudinally thereof, but inclined with respect tothe nutfor receiving the side walls of the slot of the frame. Thus when the nut is in place in the frame, as shown in Fig. 2, the frame will be almost thereagainst.

This frame has an enlarged portion 20 at its lower end forming a head for engaging within the heel "ofthe shoe and the said head may be covered with leather or the like, as shown, to prevent injury'to the interior of the shoe.

In order to provide for vertical stretching, the attachment shown in Fig. 6 is used. This attachment comprises plates 21 and 22 arranged with their planes substantially parallel and connected by a vertical plate 23 arranged at the center of the plates 21 and 22. The plate 22 is shaped to fit with in the groove 17 between the sections, with the plate 23' passing through the space between the section, to hold the plate 21 above the level of the top of the stretcher, as shown;

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noticed that the groove 7 is more nearly horizontal than the upper surface of the sections 1,

so that this groove is farther from the top of thesection'toward the heel than at the toe. Hence when the plate 22 is moved forwardly with respect to the stretcher, the plate 21 will be moved farther above the stretcher, thus increasing the distance between the top of this plate and the bottom of the stretcher. Hence the shoe may be stretched in a vertical direction. It will be understood that the usual plates indicated at 24 may be connected with the stretcher at any desired point for stretching particular parts of the shoe, as for instance at the location of bunions.

In operation, the. stretcher is introduced into the-shoe with the 'plate 14in that set of depressions 17 where it is desired to stretch the shoe either at the ball ofthe foot or at the toe. When in place, ifit is desired to stretch the shoe laterally the plate is moved longitudinally of the shoe. This moves the sections apart and stretches the shoe at the point desired. If it is desired to stretch the shoe longitudinally, the element grooves registering, said sections being slidably connected at the heel end, eachgroove having depressions in its bottom at the ball and at the toe spaced apart from each other and registering with those of the other sections, a stretcher plate, a nut journaled between the sections, a rod threaded through the nut for moving the stretcher plate, saidrodhaving its ends threaded in opposite di-' rections, a heel engaging frame, and a nut on the rear end of the rod with which'the frame is slidably connected to permit the shoe to be stretched longitudinally."

' 2. A shoe stretcher comprising similar sections, grooved on their inner faces, the

grooves registering, said sections being slidably connected at the heel end, each groove having depressions in its bottom at the ball and at the toe spaced from each otherand registering with those of the other sections, a stretcher plate, a nut journaled between the sections, a rod threaded through the nut for moving the stretcher plate and a detachable connection between the stretcher plate and the rod, and an attachment for vertical.

stretching comprising a plate movable in the grooves in the place of the stretcher plate or in front of the same, said plate having a second plate arranged above the same and connected therewith, the connection extending through the space betweenthe stretcher sections.

3. A shoe stretcher comprising similar sections, grooved on their inner faces, the grooves registering, said sections being slide ably connected at the heel'end, each groove having'depressions in its bottom at the ball and at 'the toe spaced from each other and.

registering with those 'of other sections, a

stretcher-plate, a nut journaled between the. sections, a rod threaded to the nut forgmoving the stretcher plate, and a detachable connection between the stretcher plate and the rod.

4. A shoe stretcher comprising similar sections grooved on their inner faces, the grooves registering-said sections being slidably connected at the heel end, each oove having depressions in its bottom at the ball and at the toe spaced apart from each other and registering with those of the other. sections, a stretcher plate, a nut journaled between the sections, and a rod threaded to the nut for moving the stretcher plate.

5. A shoe stretcher comprising similar sections grooved on their inner faces, the grooves registering, and each groove having depressions in its bottom at the ball and at the toe spaced apart from each other and registering with those of the other section, a

stretcher plate, and means for operating 10 said plate to move it longitudinally of the stretcher, said plate being received in the depressions during the insertion of the stretcher in the shoe.

HENRY WATERS. 

